Gaming as an adult is tough

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I spent more than 100 hours playing Borderlands. That's partly because I am obsessed with it.

I now find myself returning to the title once again. This time I'm doing so with an old friend who just discovered the unique shooter after reading about its highly anticipated sequel.

Diving back into Borderlands seemed like a fun enough idea. I'd already played through it twice, reached the level cap with my siren, and completed all the downloadable content.

I thought this would be a great opportunity to revisit Pandora while showing my buddy the ropes.

Although I'm unemployed and trying to become a professional video game journalist, that doesn't mean my also-unemployed friend is in the same boat. He has three kids which means he's super busy.

Feeding, changing, holding, coddling, playing…it's a hectic job, but it needs to be done.

Adulthood has been the biggest obstacle blocking our gaming paths.

And what about those people who do have jobs? Ah yes, the dreaded nine-to-five commitment needed to buy video games, pay rent, and fill the fridge. A job in itself isn't a bad thing, but not everyone works the same hours. Plus, people have other hobbies too.

I'll never find time to manage these little guys like I could in high school.

I prefer playing soccer instead of video games, and I also like to do a plethora of other things that make my free time disappear quickly.

With conflicting hobbies, busy friends, and even busier schedules, turning on a console becomes difficult. And sometimes after a hard day of work, I'm only using my Xbox 360 for Netflix.

When I was younger, I could play outside, do chores, and still pump more than 400 hours into Final Fantasy Tactics. That kind of life is nothing more than a memory now.

How has adult life affected your gaming habits? Let me know in the comments.